Breathing mask



July 15, 1958 c. H. HUDSON 4 ,122

BREATHING MASK Filed July 31, 1956 INVENTOR. Can/r15 fiuosolv United States Patent BREATHING MASK Charles H. Hudson, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 31, 1956, Serial No. 601,313

Claims. (Cl. 128-146) This invention relates to an improved breathing mask of the type utilized for administering oxygen or other gases to a patient. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in the supply tube that leads from an oxygen source to the face mask, especially to attachment of the tube to the mask. It also relates to a novel structure of exhalation openings and to a novel relationship between these openings and the tube inlet.

One object of the invention is to provide a suitable breathing mask that can be so inexpensively produced that it is practical to use it as an expendable mask assigned to a particular patient and discarded once that person ceases to need it, instead of having to resterilize the mask.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive and practical structure forattaching to the mask the tube that conducts the oxygen into the mask and for preventing accidental movement of the installed tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive exhalation-opening structure in a very effective location.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment presented in accordance with 35 U. S. C. 112.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an oxygen mask embodying the principles of the present invention. The inlet tube which conducts gas therewithin is shown broken off to conserve space, and a part of the mask is broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the mask of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective on a reduced scale showing the mask as worn by a person.

The mask preferably comprises a shaped shell arched to fit about the nose and mouth of a person. The shell is preferably constructed from soft pliable polyethylene or a similar non-toxic plastic material and is relatively thin in cross-section so as to be soft and flexible. Such a mask tends to mold itself to the face of each patient, is light in weight, and is sufliciently low in cost to warrant its use as a disposable or expendable hood. The arch provides a shape generally resembling that of a persons nose with a downwardly and outwardly sloping bridge portion 11, outwardly converging side portions 12 and 13 and an upwardly sloped bottom surface 14 all meeting at a rounded dome-like portion 15. Preferably the mask is provided with an outturned flange 16 for the sake of comfort, and a strap 17 is attachedby suitable means so as to hold the mask 10 snugly around the face of the person wearing it, as indicated in Fig. 4.

An inlet tube 20 leads from the source-of gas, such as a regulator attached to an oxygen cylinder, to the space 21 enclosed by the mask. This tube 20 is preferably made of vinyl or similar type of plastic tubing so as to 2,343,122 Patented July 15, 1958 be flexible and somewhat compressible and preferably of a kind which will take somewhat of a compression fit.'

In accordance with the invention disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 600,997, filed 'July 30, 1956, the inner end 22 of the tubing 20 is cut off at an angle, preferably about sixty degrees or more, so that the opening 23 lies on one side of the tubing 20 and the longer part 24 which lies on the other side acts as a shield. The gas exhausted through the opening 23 therefore is exhausted from the open side with the shield.24 deflecting it. The opening 23 may be and preferably is positioned substantially opposite the dome portion 15, while the shield 24 is arranged to lie opposite the face of the person, and the gas is therefore deflected against the. dome portion 15 of the mask 10 and diffused throughthe mask 10 without having a stream of the oxygen strike the patient.

A feature of the present invention lies in the inexpensive way in which the tube 20 is attached to the mask 10 and in which it is held with the opening 23v in the proper attitude. At the same time, a novel and very effective exhalation means is provided. All this is done by providing a thickened disc portion 25 on the bottom surface 14, made integrally with it or as an insert cemented or vulcanized to it. The disc 25 is provided with a central perforation 26 surrounded by an annular portion 27 and by a series of exhalation openings 28 between a series of supporting spokes 29.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the diameter of the tubing 20 is larger than the diameter of the central perforation 26 through which the tubing 20 is to pass, but not so much greater as to preclude its insertion therethrough. Because of its flexibility the tube 20 can easily be inserted through the smaller diameter opening 26 with the sides of the opening pinching somewhat against the walls of the tube 20. One side 30 of the opening 26 is made flat to resist a tendency of the tube 20 to turn therein and to retain the end portion 22 in proper alignment. When once inserted correctly, the tubing 20 will, left in this position, assume enough compression set so that it will be very difficult to remove or rotate the tubing 20. Because of the flat portion 30 in the perforation 26, the portion 31 of the tube 20 becomes flat and the tubing 20 cannot be rotated or pulled out; also its flexibility means that it tends to stretch rather than slip through the opening 26, and the pinching of its walls and its tendency toward compression set create resistance to its displacement.

The location of the exhalation openings 28 is an efficient one from the standpoint of manufacturing, because all the openings in and out of the mask 10 are concentrated in one portion 25 which can be thickened so that the mask 10 is not weakened by the holes 2.6 and 28. Also the location is eflicient because the holes 28 surround the inlet tube 26 and assure a good mixing of the oxygen in the area 21.

In operation, after the mask is put onto the patient, oxygen is fed in through the tubing 20 and it is diff-used by the opening 23 through the mask 10 by striking the wall of the shell. The tubing 20 is held firmly by the perforation 26 and is held against rotation by the flat portion 30. The exhalation gases leave the mask through the openings 28.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim: 1. A breathing mask, including in combination a self-supporting shell having a lower surface portion including a perforate disc, said disc having a central opening and a series of exhalation openings spaced around said central opening; and a flexible tube having an outside diameter greater than the diameter of said central opening but compressible enough to be passed therethrough, said tube being held therein against movement due to the pinching against its wall, said tube terminating inside said shell.

2. The mask of claim 1 in which said tube terminates inside said shell in a directional opening and in which said central opening has a fiat side, whereby rotation of said tube is prevented.

3. The mask of claim 2 wherein said tube is plastic and assumes a compression set after installation to resist removal or rotation.

4. 'In a disposable breathing mask into which gas is conducted by a plastic tube, the plastic being capable of compression set, a disc having a central opening with one portion fiat, an annular portion therearound, and a series of exhalation openings around said annular portion between spokes supporting said annular portion.

5. A breathing mask for covering the nose and mouth of a persons face while supplying oxygen for breathing into the space enclosed thereby, including in combination a self-supporting. shell of flexible non-toxic plastic having an inner, enclosed surface and an outer surface, said shell being arched to provide an upper and lower portion and provided in its lower portion with a first opening, around which are disposed a series of exhalation openings, said first opening being generally circular but with one side fiat; and a plastic tube for conducting oxygen into said space, said tube having an outside diameter greater than the diameter of said first opening but compressible enough for being passed therethrough and held against movement due to the pinching effect on the tubing wall, said tube passing into said space and terminating in an opening cut at an angle inclined toward said mask so that the opening is shielded from the persons face and deflects the oxygen against said inner mask surface and away from direct impingement of said persons face.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,948,945 Seijo Feb. 27, 1934 2,023,267 Rapt Dec. 3, 1935 

